The exigencies of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) regulatory framework in Zimbabwe: 2000-2021

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to develop an appropriate Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) regulatory framework for Zimbabwe. The motivation to focus on a country-specific regulatory framework was to investigate why there is a gap between the regulator’s plausible intentions, and the eventual situation on the ground as reflected by the ITU tracker. Literature shows that Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) promote development if optimally utilised. It is, therefore, necessary to develop an effective regulatory framework appropriate for Zimbabwe and developing countries of similar contextual settings. The study used a Heeks’ Design Reality Gap (DRG), a Habermasian Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) which views discourse under an Ideal Speech Situation, and Williamsonian Institutional Theory under an Interpretivist philosophical stance of a critical strand. It adopted two key qualitative methodological approaches. Firstly, it used a systematic review to interrogate the telecommunications regulatory landscape. This was meant to focus the study and develop the research gap for the study. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Synthesis (PRISMS) was employed and a compilation of 30 papers were drawn from an initial list of 75 600 papers. Secondly, the study collected primary data using in-depth Qualitative interviews and thematic analysis. The results found several gaps on the pillars of the conceptual framework. A total of eight conceptual pillars/factors emerged from this study, which then formed the building blocks of the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) regulatory framework for Zimbabwe. The study noted different key gaps and their origin on each pillar. Regulatory Independence registered a gap of more than 9, a Pro-competitiveness gap of almost 9, while Regulatory Transparency and Consistency had a tied perception with a gap of 8. The Regulatory system scored relatively higher on Regulatory Resource (gap of about 5.5) and Regulatory Competency (gap of about 6) as well as Regulatory Enforcement (gap of about 7). The output of the study was a hub and spoke Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) regulatory model for Zimbabwe consisting of seven pillars as spokes namely, Regulatory Independence, Regulatory Transparency and Consistency, Regulatory Resources, Regulatory Competency Regulatory Enforcement, and Institutionalism as the hub that stabilizes them. It is, thus, recommended that the model be operationalized and evaluated in terms of its ability to address the current challenges and gaps in the ICT sector. Future studies may also need to focus on a post-adoption valuation of the hub and spoke model